End fitting for bottle having spouts

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a mouth-piece ( 10 ) that is removable and integrally formed as single piece, for a liquid-holding bottle ( 40 ). The mouth-piece comprises two pouring spouts ( 14 ) that are adapted so as to be in fluid communication with the bottle when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle by the connecting element and are each provided with an outlet ( 16 ), the geometry of each pouring spout and its outlet being adapted so as to enable the pouring of the liquid from the bottle along a curve that is substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry (P) of the mouth-piece when the bottle is inclined in the plane of symmetry (P) of the mouth-piece, wherein the gap (distance) ( 60 ) between the outlets ( 16 ) of the two pouring spouts is adapted so as to enable the simultaneous pouring of the liquid from the bottle into two drinking glasses, as well as the pouring of the liquid from the bottle into one single drinking glass.

The present invention relates to the field of bottles containing liquid, and more precisely concerns the pouring of the liquid contained in such bottles into a drinking glass.

In some contexts, it may be useful to be able to serve multiple glasses more rapidly and/or more simply than in the conventional manner consisting of pouring the liquid from a bottle directly into the glasses one-by-one with a purely manual operation of inclining the bottle. This is for example the case in a context where there are numerous guests who could become impatient. This may also be the case in the context of a public house or a restaurant. Thus, some establishments use machines or apparatus that provide the ability to save time on such actions. For example, machines that come to mind include the apparatus in bars, where the bottles are turned upside down onto the apparatus for the immediate and simple pouring of the liquid by pressing on a button or by operating a lever. These machines are however relatively complex and not easily transportable.

Moreover, various types of mouth-pieces for bottles are known. For example, certain mouth-pieces allow to serve wine after having aerated it in advance. Other mouth-pieces, connected to oil bottles, allow pouring out fine streams of the oil in question. However, no mouth-piece is known to speed up the global pouring of the liquid in case there are multiple glasses to be served.

The object of the present invention is to provide a solution that overcomes at least partially the abovementioned drawbacks. More particularly, the invention aims at accelerating and rendering simpler the pouring of the liquid from a bottle in a situation where several glasses would potentially need to be served, without however requiring complex equipment, for example necessitating any fixed and not easily transportable installation.

To this end, the present invention provides a removable and integrally formed mouth-piece, for a liquid-containing bottle. The mouth-piece is adapted, when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle, for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle into at least one drinking glass by inclination of the bottle in a vertical plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece. The mouth-piece comprises a connecting element for connecting in a sealed manner, the mouth-piece to the bottle; and two pouring spouts. The pouring spouts are adapted to be in fluid communication with the bottle when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle by the connecting element and are each provided with an outlet. The geometry of each pouring spout and its outlet is adapted for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle along a curve substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece when the bottle is inclined in the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece. The gap between the outlet of the two pouring spouts is adapted for the simultaneous pouring of the liquid from the bottle into two drinking glasses when the bottle is inclined in such manner that the outlet of each of the two pouring spouts is above one respective drinking glass, as well as the pouring of the liquid from the bottle into a single drinking glass when the bottle is inclined in such manner that the outlet of the two pouring spouts is above the single drinking glass.

Removable and integrally formed, such a mouth-piece offers great simplicity of use, as well as great flexibility in the place of use (the mouth-piece being transportable). The presence of the two pouring spouts and their geometry allows the simultaneous pouring into two drinking glasses, which simplifies and accelerates the task for the person handling the bottle for pouring into the glasses. The gap between the two pouring spouts also allows the pouring of the liquid into a single glass if necessary, and this occurs in a natural manner and without the need for any additional operations for separating the mouth-piece from the bottle. The geometry of the pouring spouts allows the pouring into a drinking glass to be done by the simple positioning of a pouring spout above the drinking glass and inclining the bottle, in exactly the same manner as in the typical case of a bottle without mouth-piece. The pouring is therefore intuitive and is done easily and without splashing or splattering out of the glass.

Such a mouth-piece may therefore be used in any method for pouring into one or more drinking glasses, of liquid contained in a bottle (for example champagne or other sparkling wine, soda, water, wine or any spirits) when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle. The method may include one or more iterations corresponding to successive inclinations of the bottle, with one or two new drinking glasses positioned under the pouring spout at each iteration/inclination. The method may include an initial step of connecting the mouth-piece to the bottle (for example, by means of press-fitting in, as it will be explained later), if such connection has not already been carried out.

According to some preferred embodiments, the mouth-piece comprises one or more of the following characteristic features:

-   -   The gap between the outlets of the two pouring spouts is less         than 5 cm, advantageously less than 4 cm.     -   At least one of the outlets of the two pouring spouts has a         minimum diameter greater than 0.5 cm, advantageously greater         than 1 cm.     -   At least one of the outlets of the two pouring spouts has a part         forming a spout.     -   The part forming a spout is oriented towards the plane of         symmetry of the mouth-piece or parallelly to the plane of         symmetry (P) of the mouth-piece.     -   The internal geometry of each pouring spout comprises a sharp         ridge forming a gutter.     -   The two pouring spouts have an inclination relative to the         vertical plane that is orthogonal to the plane of symmetry of         the mouth-piece when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle         by the connecting element.     -   At least one of the outlets of the two pouring spouts presents a         shape corresponding to an angled section of a conduit.     -   The two pouring spouts form a V.     -   The top of the interior of the two branches of the V form a         sharp ridge.

Other characteristic features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description followed by one preferred embodiment of the invention, provided purely as an example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

-   -   FIGS. 1 to 6 illustrate the mouth-piece.     -   FIG. 7 illustrates the connecting element.     -   FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a transverse section of a pouring spout         of the mouth-piece.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show an example referenced 10 of the mouth-piece according to the invention.

The mouth-piece 10 is removable. This signifies that it can be connected to one bottle, and then removed, and then connected to yet another bottle. This also signifies that it can be transported. Indeed, according to the material used, the mouth-piece 10 may weight less than 500 grammes, preferably less than 100 grammes, preferably of the order of one or more dozens of grammes. With reference to FIG. 5, and considering the rectangular parallelepiped having the smallest volume and containing the mouth-piece, its dimensions may be less than 10 cm for the largest width 50, for example between 4 cm and 6 cm, less than 10 cm for the greatest length 52, for example between 5 cm and 7 cm, and of the order of one centimeter for the thickness, for example between 1 cm and 3 cm. This provides a simple and flexible use, and thus enables its use by the general public (the mouth-piece may thus constitute a consumer good or a common kitchen utensil).

The mouth-piece 10 is also integrally formed, in other words formed as a one-piece unit (ie without any internal connecting element). This simplifies its use (which may thus remain for general public use) and its production. The production thereof may be carried out in a conventional manner, in particular by means of molding (for example by thermo-molding) or even by means of 3D printing. The material used may be any material as long as it ensures connection in a sealed manner. Purely as an example, any plastic material or stainless steel would be suitable.

The mouth-piece 10 is intended for a bottle containing liquid (as can be seen in FIG. 4 which shows the mouth-piece 10 as connected to a bottle 40) and is adapted, when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle (and when the bottle indeed contains liquid), for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle into at least one drinking glass by inclining the bottle. Thus, the mouth-piece 10 comprises a connecting element 12 that makes possible a sealed connection (at least substantially) between the mouth-piece and the bottle, in such manner that the mouth-piece is able to form (in case of such a connection), an extension of the bottle, the pouring of liquid then taking place via the mouth-piece (in other words by using the tubular conduit having multiple branches formed by the mouth-piece).

The connecting element of the mouth-piece may be any connector, and all of the solutions conventionally used by the mouth-pieces for bottles known from the prior art may be suitable. In the case of the example, and as can be seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, as well as in FIG. 7 which shows the connecting element 12 in isolation from the rest of the mouth-piece 10, the connecting element 12 consists of a conduit forming a sleeve, which may be generally cylindrical in form, provided with rings 77. The rings 77 (ie radial annular protuberances) may be between 1 and 5 in number, for example 3 as in the example of the figures, and from the same material as the rest of the connecting element 12 and the mouth-piece 10. Such a connecting element 12 makes possible the sealed connection of the mouth-piece with a bottle by means of simply press-fitting in (ie insertion of the connecting element into the neck of a bottle), as can be seen in FIG. 4 which shows that the connecting element of the mouth-piece 10 is pushed into the bottle 40 and therefore not apparent in the figure, provided that the dimensions of the connecting element correspond to those of the neck of the bottle 40 envisaged for the mouth-piece 10. This allows a simple and rapid mounting of the mouth-piece. In order to facilitate the insertion, the connecting element 12 may have an angled segment 78 in its lower part. With regard to the dimensions which depend on those of the envisaged bottle, with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 5, the external diameter of the conduit 72 is generally comprised between 10 mm and 20 mm, for example of the order of 15 mm. The internal diameter 73 depends on the envisaged flow rate. It may be comprised between 12 mm and 18 mm, for example of the order of 14 mm. It may be independent of the external diameter. With regard to the rings 77 they may have a width between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm. The top ring 79 may be wider than the others, which allows it to lock horizontally on to the top edge of the neck of the bottle rather than getting pushed therein, and thus stop the pushing. The height 74 may be comprised between 0.5 cm and 2 cm, preferably between 0.8 cm and 1.3 cm.

The mouth-piece has a general shape that is substantially symmetrical (ie modulo of eventual ad-hoc asymmetries that may be added and with no link to the characteristic features discussed with reference to the figures). Thus, the plane P of symmetry can be defined as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The plane P is vertical when the mouth-piece 10 is connected to the bottle 40 and the bottle 40 is vertically oriented. Therefore, if the bottle is inclined in the plane P (that is to say according to a rotation whose axis of rotation is orthogonal to the plane P), there comes a moment when the liquid gets poured out of the bottle (depending on the degree to which the bottle is filled and on the exact geometry of the mouth-piece). In fact, the mouth-piece 10 comprises the two pouring spouts 14, which are in fluid communication with the bottle 40 when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle 40 by the connecting element 12, which means that the mouth-piece forms a branched conduit (having a general tubular form, as can be seen in the figures) extending the conduit formed by the neck of the bottle 40. Each pouring spout 14 in addition being provided with a respective outlet referenced 16 (that is, one single top opening), the conduit thus formed allows for the discharge of the liquid contained in the bottle 40 below the spout.

As this is immediately apparent in the figures, the geometry of the pouring spouts 14 and their respective outlets 16 is adapted for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle along a curve substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry P of the mouth-piece 10 when the bottle is inclined in this plane P. In other words, the stream of liquid which is poured follows a curve contained in a plane substantially parallel to the plane P when the bottle is inclined “normally”, that is to say, as indicated here above. The term “substantially parallel” is used herein to indicate that the curves formed by the streams of poured liquid (or the planes wherein they are contained) each form an angle with the plane P less than 30°, preferably less than 15°, and advantageously less than 10°. These poured streams are therefore substantially parallel to each other (and to the plane P) with an intuitive standard use of the bottle 40 fitted with the mouth-piece 10, the liquid being poured towards the front of the bottle (the “front-ward” direction corresponding to the direction of inclination of the bottle), rather than starting to flow out in opposite directions, for example. Thus, the bottle exhibits a pouring behavior that is consistent with this of a bottle not having such a mouth-piece 10, with the exception (practically) that the single poured stream characteristic of the “conventional” case is divided into two substantially parallel streams when the mouth-piece 10 is used. This allows a simple and intuitive use, and thereby ensuring the ability to properly pour the liquid into a single glass or into two glasses, depending on the choice, without the need for the outlets 16 to be inserted into the glass or glasses being thus filled or for any mental calculation of the geometry being performed by the user. Indeed, the mouth-piece 10 is adapted for a proper pouring when the pouring spouts are a few centimeters above the opening of the glass or glasses, or they are supported on the rim of the glass or glasses as in the conventional case of pouring with a bottle without mouth-piece, where the neck of the bottle can be supported on the rim of the glass.

Illustrated in FIG. 6, the gap 60 between the outlet 16 of the two pouring spouts is as previously indicated adapted for not only the simultaneous pouring of the liquid from the bottle 40 into two drinking glasses when the bottle 40 is inclined in such a manner that the outlet 16 of each of the two pouring spouts 14 is above a respective drinking glass, but also the pouring of the liquid from the bottle into a single individual drinking glass when the bottle is inclined in a such manner a that the outlet 16 of the two pouring spouts 14 is above the single drinking glass. The mouth-piece 10 is thus adapted to an undifferentiated use for pouring two glasses simultaneously or one single glass with the same type of inclination of the bottle, without any manipulation of its connection to the bottle 40. This makes the mouth-piece 10 very practical, because it can be left connected to the bottle 40 as long as the bottle 40 is being used. The gap 60 is shown in FIG. 6 as the gap between the two top points that will be discussed later. This is in fact the distance between the two centers of the outlets 16. The center of an outlet 16 is defined in the example represented in the figures as the center of the circle inscribed in the outlet 16 having the largest diameter. This is more generally (substantially) the center of the geometric figure represented by the outlet 16.

The gap 60 may be for example less than 5 cm, advantageously less than 4 cm. Studies show that such values allow a simple use of the mouth-piece in the most common cases of drinking glasses, including champagne flutes whose diameters are relatively small.

Similarly, the gap 50 between the external edges of the two outlets 16 and illustrated in the figure may be less than 7 cm, advantageously less than 5 cm. Indeed, at least one of the outlets 16 (and preferably both) of the two pouring spouts 14 may have a minimum diameter greater than 0.5 cm, advantageously greater than 1 cm. This allows a good flow (with sufficient flow rate) in the case of liquids such as champagne or other sparkling wine, soda, water, spirits and wine.

In the example, the outlets 16 of the two pouring spouts each have a part 32 that forms the spout, as highlighted in FIG. 3 as well as in FIG. 9 which represents in solid line the transverse section of a pouring spout 14 at the level of its outlet 16 and in dotted line the transverse section of a pouring spout at the level of one branch, for example at the mid-way point (also illustrated in FIG. 8). The part 32 constitutes the main zone of the edge of the outlet 16 through which the liquid is poured, and this part 32 is formed by two straight planes that meet each other, projecting into a tip in FIG. 9, thus defining a semi-pyramid (rather than by a zone of a cylinder, as over the rest of the edge of the outlet 16). This allows a more accurate pouring. In addition, it gives the user a visual indicator that enables him to promptly understand at a glance the “natural” mode of use of the mouth-piece 10 (with reference to FIG. 4, this mode consists of inclining the bottle in the counterclockwise direction in relation to the projection of the figure).

In addition, the internal geometry of each pouring spout 14 (that is, primarily a conduit with a general cylindrical shaped form) comprises a sharp ridge 34 forming a gutter, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8. The sharp ridge 34 follows a curve along each pouring spout (within the interior of the conduit formed by the pouring spout 14, that is to say on the internal wall of the pouring spout 14) which guides the flow of the liquid during pouring, in the manner of a gutter. This provides a more accurate pouring with less splattering and splashing, and this also provides a visual indicator, as explained here above. As in the example shown in the figures, the sharp ridge 34 may reach the base of the portion 32.

With reference to FIG. 2, the two pouring spouts 14 have an inclination α (non zero) in relation to the vertical plane P′ orthogonal to the plane of symmetry P of the mouth-piece 10, when the mouth-piece 10 is connected to the bottle 40 by the connecting element 12 (and the bottle 40 is vertically oriented). The angle α may be greater than 5° and/or less than 45°, preferably greater than 20° and/or less than 25°. This facilitates the flow (provided that the bottle 40 is properly inclined, that is to say not only in the appropriate plane but also in the appropriate direction), and this provides a visual indicator, as explained here above.

We will know discuss the characteristic features of the mouth-piece 10 whether or not present in the example which make it particularly well suited to the pouring of bubbly liquids, in particular foaming liquids, for example sparkling wines such as champagne or sodas.

In the example shown in the figures, the part 32 forming a pouring spout is oriented to be parallel to the plane of symmetry P of the mouth-piece, thus projecting outward in a perfectly straight manner over a horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. 9. Alternatively, the parts 32 may be oriented towards the plane P, thereby undergoing a “turn towards the interior”. Thus, the sharp ridge 34, connected to the portion 32, undergoes a torsion bringing it towards the interior between the two pouring spouts 14. The parts 32 thus point in a direction going towards the plane P (for example, a direction forming an angle of less than 30° with the plane P). This allows the tightening of the two poured streams of liquid thus facilitating the pouring of liquid into a same given glass, which is particularly useful for champagne glasses whose diameters are relatively small.

As can be seen in the figures, the two pouring spouts 14 form a V. In other words, the conduit formed by the two pouring spouts 14 has a general tubular shaped form with two straight branches that meet each other forming a sharp angle. This allows a flow without an excessive impact for the liquid in the mouth-piece, thereby minimizing any unintentional foaming in the case of such liquids. This also allows to better visualize the dimensions of the mouth-piece, to better distinguish the two pouring spouts 14 and thus to better position it when it is desired to pour two glasses simultaneously.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the top of the interior of the two branches of the V may form in particular a sharp ridge 36. This enables a clear division of the liquid, which encounters upon the division into the two branches of the mouth-piece 10 the sharp ridge 36 rather than, for example, a saddle-shaped segment, which serves to reduce any potential unintentional foaming.

In the figures, it may be seen that the outlets 16 of the two pouring spouts 14 present a shape corresponding to a transverse section of tubular conduits that is orthogonal to the direction of the conduit (when the mouth-piece is considered to be connected to a vertical bottle). However, the shape may alternatively correspond to an angled section in the direction accentuating the spout formed by the part 32. This makes it possible to offer to the view a greater surface of the liquid at the outlet of the mouth-piece 10 when it is being poured. 

1. A removable and integrally formed mouth-piece for a liquid-containing bottle, adapted, when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle, for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle into at least one drinking glass by inclination of the bottle in a vertical plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece, the mouth-piece comprising: a connecting element for connecting in a sealed manner the mouth-piece to the bottle; and two pouring spouts that are adapted so as to be in fluid communication with the bottle when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle by the connecting element and are each provided with an outlet; the geometry of each pouring spout and its outlet being adapted for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle along a curve substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece when the bottle is inclined in the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece; the gap between the outlet of the two pouring spouts being adapted for the simultaneous pouring of the liquid from the bottle into two drinking glasses when the bottle is inclined in such manner that the outlet of each of the two pouring spouts is above one respective drinking glass, as well as for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle into a single drinking glass when the bottle is inclined in such manner that the outlet of the two pouring spouts is above the single drinking glass.
 2. A mouth-piece according to claim 1, wherein the gap between the outlets of the two pouring spouts is less than 5 cm, advantageously less than 4 cm.
 3. A mouth-piece according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the outlets of the two pouring spouts has a minimum diameter greater than 0.5 cm, advantageously greater than 1 cm.
 4. A mouthpiece according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the outlets of the two pouring spouts has a part forming a spout.
 5. A mouth-piece according to claim 4, wherein the part forming a spout is oriented towards the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece or parallel to the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece.
 6. A mouth-piece according to claim 1, wherein the internal geometry of each pouring spout comprises a sharp ridge forming a gutter.
 7. A mouth-piece according to claim 1, wherein the two pouring spouts have an inclination relative to the vertical plane that is orthogonal to the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle by the connecting element.
 8. A mouth-piece according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the outlets of the two pouring spouts presents a shape corresponding to an angled section of a conduit.
 9. A mouth-piece according to claim 1, wherein the two pouring spouts form a V.
 10. A mouth-piece according to claim 9, wherein the top of the interior of the two branches of the V form a sharp ridge.
 11. A removable and integrally formed mouth-piece for a liquid-containing bottle, adapted, when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle, for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle into at least one drinking glass by inclination of the bottle in a vertical plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece, the mouth-piece comprising: a connecting element for connecting in a sealed manner the mouth-piece to the bottle; and two pouring spouts that form a V, the top of the interior of the two branches of the V forming a sharp ridge, the two pouring spouts being adapted so as to be in fluid communication with the bottle when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle by the connecting element, the two pouring spouts being each provided with an outlet; the geometry of each pouring spout and its outlet being adapted for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle along a curve substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece when the bottle is inclined in the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece; the gap between the outlet of the two pouring spouts being adapted for the simultaneous pouring of the liquid from the bottle into two drinking glasses when the bottle is inclined in such manner that the outlet of each of the two pouring spouts is above one respective drinking glass, as well as for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle into a single drinking glass when the bottle is inclined in such manner that the outlet of the two pouring spouts is above the single drinking glass.
 12. A removable and integrally formed mouth-piece for a liquid-containing bottle, adapted, when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle, for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle into at least one drinking glass by inclination of the bottle in a vertical plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece, the mouth-piece comprising: a connecting element for connecting in a sealed manner the mouth-piece to the bottle; and two pouring spouts that are adapted so as to be in fluid communication with the bottle when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle by the connecting element and are each provided with an outlet; the geometry of each pouring spout and its outlet being adapted for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle along a curve substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece when the bottle is inclined in the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece, the two pouring spouts having an inclination relative to the vertical plane that is orthogonal to the plane of symmetry of the mouth-piece when the mouth-piece is connected to the bottle by the connecting element; the gap between the outlet of the two pouring spouts being adapted for the simultaneous pouring of the liquid from the bottle into two drinking glasses when the bottle is inclined in such manner that the outlet of each of the two pouring spouts is above one respective drinking glass, as well as for the pouring of the liquid from the bottle into a single drinking glass when the bottle is inclined in such manner that the outlet of the two pouring spouts is above the single drinking glass. 